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The bench was not a key factor in the Celtics success this season. The fact is the starters were dominant. The NBA has started using the Lenovo stat, which is the equivalent of hickey's +/- rating. The NBA can also track this stat with different combinations of players on the floor. When the Celtics starting 5 were on the floor this season they were as a group +396. Only 2 other combinations of 5 players were better than +200 in the entire league. Their were a total of 5 other combinations that managed to be better than +100. Individually, Paul Pierce led the league in the Lenovo stat at +784. Kevin Garnett was 2nd in the league, Ray Allen was 3rd, Rajon Rondo was 4th and Kendrick Perkins was 8th. That means, out of all the players in the league, 4 of the Celtics starters were the top 4 in the league in +/- and their fifth starter was only bested by Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince. This shows how truly dominant the Celtics starters were. The best thing the bench did for the Celtics was know their roles and let the starters do what they do. They didn't complain about playing time or cause any other problems. The Celtics success in the playoffs is almost exclusively dependent on the starters. If the starters play well, the Celtics will win. If the starters don't play well, then it wont matter what the bench does. As long as the bench players stay out of the starters way, keep quiet and do their small parts when they are on the court, the starters will be free to do the majority of the work. And this is what the Celtics want and need to succeed in the playoffs.
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